Car-coupling



(No Model.)

J. J. A. WILLIAMS & G. J. EDELSTON.

GAR COUPLING.

.311. Patented June a, 1890.

INVENTOH .f

WITNESSES A 77005 VS 11., mum-mum, WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. A. \VILLIAMS AND GEORGE J. EDELSTON, OF NElV ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,371, dated June 3, 1890.

Application filed February 13, 1890. Serial No. 340,346. (No model.) I

10 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN J. A. WILLIAMS and GEORGE J. EDELSTON, of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Oar- Ooupling, of whichthe following is a. full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in car-couplin gs, and has for its object to provide a simple and reliable device which will automatically couple cars, and which may be 0p cation, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the end of a car-body with the improved coupling in position on it. Fig. 2 is a side elevation in section of two couplings coupled together, taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 3 is a plan in section of the coupling, showing the connecting-hook of another coupling in dotted lines and broken at its disengaged end.

The draw-head A is preferably cast into form, is rectangular in construction and of suitable length for its use, having a cavity formed in it which is divided longitudinally and vertically by a partition-wall a, thus affording two compartments open at the front. One of the compartments 1) is preferably made of greater width than the other 0, the latter being designed to receive the body of the hookbar B, which adapted to vibrate vertically in the same by pivotal engagement of its end d with a transverse bolt 6, that passes through and is secured in the side walls of the drawhead. The lower wall a of the draw-head A at its front is provided with a downwardly and outwardly curved lip f, which lip extends across the wider compartment I), thus prod ucing a guiding-incline for the hook-bar of a similar coupling, the side walls of the compartment being also flared to permit the easy insertion of said hook. It may here be explained thatthe compartment 1) is made wider than the compartment 0 to allow lateral freedom to the hook-bar when cars are moving on'a curve. The transverse bolt 6 is located at such a distance from the front end of the draw-head that space is afforded for the loose support of a rock-bar g in front of the bolt 6, which bar is journaled in the side walls of the draw-head A nearer the bottom wall a than is the bolt 6. The body of the rock-bar g is preferably made square in cross-section, to adapt it to engage and vibrate the tripping-blocks h 2', which are respectively located in the compartments 1) c. The block It has such a degree of curvature on its upper face that this will conform to the shape of the incline f, so that the free end of the hook-bar B may slide upward and inward thereon until it drops over the transverse bolt 6 and latches its hook end 6' thereto, thus converting the bolt-body into a latch-bar for a hook-bar on a mating coupling that is to be connected thereto.

To render the block it available for disconnection of the engaged hook end 6', its lower surface is suitably curved to clear the lower wall of the draw-head, thereby permitting the forward edge h to be upwardly rocked, which will elevate the hook end 6 and'release the bar B.

The tripping-block i, which is located in the adjoining compartment 0, is shaped to adapt it to bear upon the lower surface of the hookbar B, pivoted on the transverse bolt 6 in the same compartment, so that the rock-bar g, by a limited oscillation on its bearings, will simultaneously elevate both of the tripping-blocks h and i sut'ficiently to release the hook-bars of engaged couplings of the type under consideration, and thereby disconnectthe cars whereon they are placed.

On the projecting end of the rock-ban g a rock-arm g is secured at one side of the drawhead A, said arm having a chain connection It with a depending pull-bar k, which is supported near the roof of the car O on its. vertical end wall by sliding engagement with a bracket-plate m, that is secured on said wall, as shown in Fig. 1.

At a convenient point to be reached from one side of the car 0 a horizontal lever n is" pivoted on its vertical end wall at n, the inner terminal of said lever being connected to the chain It, thus providing means for rocking vibration of the bar gand attached trippingblocks h i, the position of which on the rockbar 9 is such with regard to the rock-arm g that the latter will lie extended nearly horizontally when the tripping-blocks have 0011- tact with the lower wall of the draw-head A. The draw-head is vertically perforated near the front end at the transverse center producing aligning holes 0 0 in the top and bottom Walls of the same, which will permit a pin to be inserted, and thus connect an ordinary link of a common coupling to the improved coupling when this is desired; or, in case of an accident which destroys the coupling mechanism, by use of links and pins the cars may be coupled in the usual manner.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- In a car-coupler, the combination, with a draw-head divided longitudinally and vertically into two divisions and provided with a downwardly-inclined front end, a transverse pivot-bolt that is also a latch-bar, a hook-bar pivoted to the pivot-bar in one division, a transverse rock-bar in front of pivot-bar, a tripping-block 7 mounted upon the rock-bar in the same division that the hook-bar is pivoted, the tripping-block h, mounted on the rock-bar in the other division, the front face of said block h being curved to form a continuation of the inclined mouth, for the purpose described, and devices for operating the rock-barand tripping-blocks, substantially as shown and described.

JOHN J. A. \VILLIAMS. GEORGE J. EDELSTON. \Vitnesses:

WM. L. THOMPSON, .TNo. L. SMITH, L. J. PETERSON. 

